Buying a used MINI Cooper R50/R53 (2002-2007)

BMW's 'new MINI' was fun and could be fast but missed out on the innovation that made its predecessor a design legend. The Mini that appeared in 1959 changed far more than the fundamentals of automotive design. The front-wheel drive British model influenced popular culture and made life easier when the German company that acquired the name decided to introduce a vastly different version. BMW's MINI echoed the original without ever becoming a parody. The shape enlarged and emboldened though it was, maintained the Mini 'look' and front-wheel drive remained an essential element.

Once the Rover brand fell under the control of a cashed-up and adventurous BMW, the chances of seeing a modern-day Mini became unbackable. Developed alongside BMW's 1 Series, the MINI shared some of that car's engineering but maintained its own identity.

Under BMW ownership, the Rover brand had been doing reasonable business producing retro versions of the original BMC Mini shape. That enterprise ended in 2000 and less than a year later came the wider, more spacious and powerful R50 model.

Overseas model lists included the 1.4-litre MINI One but the cars that appeared here during 2002 all had 1.6-litre engines; 85kW for the non-turbo Cooper and 120kW when supercharged in the Cooper S.

Five-speed manual transmissions were standard but those who opted for automatic got a Steptronic CVT system with five - later six - steps plus manual override when in Sport mode.

A glance at the price of a base model and then the extensive options list left no doubt as to the influence of BMW's Marketing division – famous in the 1980s for selling cheap but almost 'empty' 318i models. Auto transmission added $2200 but a sunroof, leather trim , cruise control, climate control air-conditioning and fatter alloys sent the price of a $32,650 manual Cooper to just on $40K.

That, coincidentally, was starting money for the six-speed manual Cooper S which also included in its equipment list 16-inch alloys and leather trim. Stability control and air-bags everywhere contributed to an initial four-star ANCAP crash safety rating.

2004 brought with it a Chilli version in the popular Cooper S colour combination of red with a white turret. Tweaking took standard power output to 125kW but tipping an extra $6200 into the price pot delivered, from 2005, a John Cooper Works (JCW) engine upgrade with a very serious 155kW.

Also new in that year was the first-ever open-top Mini; the cute as button Cabrio. It came as a Cooper and Cooper S and also with the JCW performance kit at a $55,000 price-tag.

New as well for 2005 was the first Cooper S with automatic transmission; a new six-speed CVT system that was intended to overcome durability problems suffered by the earlier unit.

ON THE ROAD
If you have never driven an original '‘Issigonis' Cooper S then perhaps the later car won't exude all the nostalgia it was intended to impart.

Despite being an empty, echoing box with shocking seats and a criminally inhumane driving position, the old 1275cc Cooper S delivered perverse enjoyment and rewards for the driver who took time to understand and exploit the car's quirks.

The cabin in the new MINI is wide but its seats are a tight fit for larger drivers. Buying a Cooper as supplementary family transport isn't a good idea because the boot barely takes a carry-on bag and if you've got a couple of small kids occupying the back seat there really isn't room for much shopping.

For a couple who can treat the rear seat as a permanent luggage platform, the hatchback design is great. Something that didn't migrate across from the original design is the old car's deep door bins that would solve some of the new one's storage problems.

Having no boot space also means no spare wheel – although apparently you could order a space-saver. All that's there is a can of repair goo (that by now is probably past the use-by date) and an inflator.

The fun begins on the freeway access ramp as the Cooper S supercharger starts to whine and revs rise above 4000rpm. In a second you bump the limiter, snatch another gear via the ridiculously short selector and the car blends effortlessly with 110km/h traffic.

Sixth gear produces a frugal 38km/h per 1000 revs but acceleration is sluggish so you may need to drop to 4th to make rapid lane-changes stick.

In traffic you need to be aware of other vehicles' blind-spots because the compact Cooper is difficult to see.

Lots more fun is in store once off the multi-lanes and into some up and down terrain that's festooned with tight (and getting tighter) hairpins, confused cambers and multi-apex turns that confirm the quality of the Cooper S chassis in twisty stuff.

BMW avoided the temptation to go silly with tyre aspect ratios and as a result the 55 Profile rubber does a decent job of absorbing bumps and ripples. Without trying a Cooper on gravel it's hard to predict how it might perform, however 2.5 turns lock to lock and swift throttle response suggests that if you know what you're doing it won't bite.

Performance against road-tester's timing equipment was slower than the cars might feel. Best available from the 85kW Cooper for 0-100km/h was 10.1 seconds however the supercharged car did better with a 7.9. 

If you can keep your foot away from the throttle pedal in this car, you're a more restrained individual than most. Fuel consumption when enjoying the available performance zooms beyond 13.0L/100km but the frugal can get that below 9.0L/100km.

CHECK POINTS
>> CVT Transmissions sold in the United States market failed so frequently that a class action won compensation and a warranty extension. The main issue is that even an apparently healthy transmission can suddenly fail, with disintegrating internals distributing slivers of metal throughout the tranny and making it completely unserviceable. Avoid pre-2006 CVT Minis unless you are confident the transmission has been declared sound.

>> Manual cars suffer premature clutch failures – often due to owners attempting to overcome the traction control – and can also damage the flywheel and generate a big bill. If you need to replace the clutch a stronger JCW unit is a worthwhile investment.

>> Problems occur when the electrically-operated power steering system overheats, generating warranty claims and dissatisfied owners. Like the CVT problem, these issues affect pre-2006 models. Although most should by now have been repaired, any stickiness or inconsistency of movement is a warning to find another car or cop a big bill.

>> BMW Australia issued a recall during 2003 to rectify a suspension mounting problem that could allow a strut to work loose.

>> Look for leaks around the coolant tank or tank repairs. The tank can suffer heat stress and crack leading to sudden loss of coolant.

>> Listen when test-driving for rumbling noises indicating worn rear wheel bearings. The bearing and hub are sold as a unit and quite expensive but replacement is simple.

>> Examine the roof material on Cabrios for signs of the frame rubbing against fabric. If too advanced, a worn top may need to be replaced. The mechanism may also be incorrectly aligned and liable to jam.

USED VEHICLE GRADING
Design and Function: 13/20
Safety: 13/20
Practicality: 10/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 15/20
SCORE: 63/100

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